FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH OF LAKE VIEW:
A HISTORY, 1910-2010
- By Mrs. Jimmie Rogers and Dr. Brett C. Patterson
On June 25, 1910, nine men met at Bear Swamp Church to organize a new church at Page's Mill: Alex Page, Ed Hill, D. K. Ford, W. J. Ford, Ed Lupo, Dennis Merritt, Hiniard Rogers, Neil Cook, and Dillon Humphrey. On June 26, pastors from Mullins, Kemper, Bear Swamp, Oak Dale, Marion, and Dillon met at Page's Mill to recognize the newly formed church. The eighteen charter members included the above nine and the following: Mary Ford, Mrs. Ed Hill, Lulu Lupo, M. B. Lupo, L. G. Miller, W. B. Norman, Alex Horn, Mrs. Willie D. Rogers, and Dr. J. H. Rogers.
From 1910 to 1912, the congregation met in an available local store. Rev. James A. Smith of Wilmington, North Carolina, began serving as the first pastor in July of 1910. Rev. R. A. Hedgepath came in 1912, the same year the church sanctuary was built on the southeast corner of Main Street and First Avenue. James P. Watson, then Page's Mill superintendent of schools, provided important leadership during this building project. The cost of the new sanctuary was fully paid by 1913, the same year the church began appointing special committees for the collecting of missions offerings. Over the next eight years, pastors serving included Rev. W. C. Wallace, Rev. J. A. Langley, Rev. E. T. Mason, and Rev. A. T. Howell.
From 1920 to 1935, Lake View Baptist was united with Nichols. By 1923, the year the church started Wednesday-night prayer service, membership had grown from the original 18 charter members to around 200. During the 1920s, Rev. W. H. Simpson, Rev. Rufus Ford, and Rev. J. J. Britt served as pastors. Up until 1927 the church conducted business by calling the membership into conference under the leadership of a moderator and clerk. In 1927 the church established a deacon rotation, electing the following as our church's first deacons: D. C. Humphrey, E. V. Barfield, Gernie Hayes, Hiniard Rogers, Charlie Grantham, and C. R. Hayes. The church elected C. P. Hayes and Alex Page as honorary deacons-for-life. In 1930 Rev. Claude Tuten became pastor and was instrumental in organizing Baptist Young People's Union. The Woman's Missionary Society formed in 1929, soon sponsoring GA's and Sunbeam Band. Rev. H. D. Gober followed two years later, serving for nine; it was during his tenure (in 1935) that Lake View and Nichols became independent congregations.
In 1944 Rev. C. J. Blackmon became pastor. Also in the 1940s, the church built a parsonage on South Main Street and changed its name from Lake View Baptist to First Baptist Church of Lake View. Membership grew into the mid-400s. Through the 1950s, 60s, and 70s, Rev. Mack Summey (7 years), Rev. T. J. Fulk (2 years), Rev. Maynard Allen (5 years), and Rev. Howard Fowler (12 years) served as pastors. The church built the Educational Building in 1954 and purchased a new parsonage on Highway 41 in 1970. Mrs. Robert Hayes became the first church secretary, followed by others who have served our church faithfully over the years.
The 1980s brought significant change, for the original sanctuary, built in 1912, was replaced with the current sanctuary, completed in 1985. Rev. Timothy Lawson provided leadership in this difficult and exciting time. In 1989 Rev. Lyn Anderson answered the call to serve as pastor, and his wife Adrienne assumed the role of Minister of Music. Rev. Anderson served the congregation for twenty years, during which time the Educational Building was renovated.
Over the years, First Baptist has supported the Southern Baptist Convention, the South Carolina Baptist Convention, the Pee Dee Baptist Association, and most recently, the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship (both state & national). In 2009 as the church neared its 100th birthday, it extended a call to Dr. Brett Chandler Patterson to serve as pastor and to Rev. Stephanie T. Patterson to serve as associate pastor. The church also called its first woman deacon this year. 2010 marks its centennial year. It is an exciting time to be a part of the ministry of First Baptist Church of Lake View. May we offer a prayer of thanksgiving for God's blessings over these past years and a prayer of commitment to go where God will guide us today.